With more tribal organizations directing candidates to withdraw their nominations, the Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya Thursday has appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities, for smooth conduct of elections to municipal/town councils slated to be held on February 1, 2017.
Emphasizing that dialogue was the only way to solve all issues, Acharya further appealed to the NGOs to follow the law and to allow Municipal/Town Council elections to go ahead as announced by the government, so that the democratic ideals of Nagaland was protected and preserved.
The Governor also said that Nagaland will now join the rest of the country in implementing reservation for women in local bodies by conducting Municipal/Town council elections with 33% women quota.
It would not only empower women but would bring changes in the social structure of the country in many ways, he said.
He further asserted that women who remained largely outside the public arena, would play a positive role, when they were allowed to involve in the decision making body.
Acharya also maintained that citizens would be benefitted from basic necessary amenities once election to municipal/town councils was conducted.
The Governor also explained on how the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 2012 exempted the State from applicability of Article 242 (T), Part IX-A of the constituent, which deals with reservation of seats in Municipalities. However, same resolution was revoked by Nagaland Legislative Assembly on November 24, 2016 to exempt the state from implementing 33% women quota in municipalities. The resolution was revoked after NMA moved the Supreme Court against it.